Discover AP - Cancelled Recurring Transaction: What It Is and How to Respond

Discover AP is filed when a cardholder cancelled a recurring subscription or membership but was charged again after the cancellation. It is Discover's equivalent of Visa 13.2 and Amex C28. Like those codes, the dispute turns on one question: is there a valid cancellation request in your records that predates the disputed charge?

AP disputes are common for subscription businesses, SaaS products, membership sites, and any business with recurring billing. The most important piece of evidence is your cancellation log - if it shows no cancellation request before the charge date, you can fight. If any cancellation communication exists, accept and refund.

Common reasons you received this dispute

1Customer cancelled via your portal but the cancellation didn't process
2Customer contacted support to cancel but the subscription system wasn't updated
3Customer claims they cancelled but your records show no request
4Free trial converted to paid without sufficient advance notice of the upcoming charge
5Customer cancelled through a third-party billing platform that didn't sync with your system

Can you win this dispute?

Fight this dispute if...

✓Your cancellation log shows no request before the disputed billing date
✓The account was actively used after the date the customer claims they cancelled
✓The cardholder's claimed cancellation date is after the billing cycle that generated this charge

Accept this chargeback if...

✗Any cancellation communication predates the disputed charge
✗A third-party platform (App Store, PayPal) confirms the cancellation before the billing date

Evidence checklist

✅ Required
Complete cancellation log showing no request received before the charge date.
✅ Required
Subscription agreement with billing schedule and cancellation terms accepted at signup.
✅ Required
Billing history showing the disputed charge was within an active subscription period.
⭐ Strongly recommended
Account activity/login log showing usage after the claimed cancellation date confirming the subscription was active.
○ If available
Third-party platform cancellation records confirming no cancellation was processed.

How to write your response

State directly that your cancellation log contains no record of a request before the charge date. Pair this with your subscription agreement to show the charge was made in accordance with the agreed billing terms.

“We are writing to dispute Discover chargeback [reference] under reason code AP. Our subscription system has no record of a cancellation request from this account prior to [charge date]. Exhibit A is the complete cancellation log for this account. Exhibit B is the subscription agreement showing billing terms agreed at signup. Exhibit C shows account activity through [date] confirming the subscription was active. We respectfully request reversal of this chargeback.”

Key deadlines

Response window: 30 calendar days from the notification date.

How to prevent this chargeback

1
Log all cancellation requests regardless of channel: Emails, portal submissions, and third-party webhooks must all feed the same cancellation record.
2
Send advance renewal reminders: 7 days for trial-to-paid conversions, 14–30 days for annual renewals.
3
Make cancellation as easy as signup: A single online button reduces disputes and regulatory risk.
4
Integrate App Store, Google Play, and PayPal cancellation webhooks: Prevent third-party blind spots by syncing platform cancellations to your subscription system automatically.

Frequently asked questions

What is Discover AP?

Discover AP is filed when a cardholder cancelled a recurring subscription but was billed again after the cancellation. It's Discover's equivalent of Visa 13.2 and Amex C28. The dispute turns on whether a valid cancellation was in your system before the disputed charge.

How do I fight a Discover AP dispute?

Show your cancellation log with no request recorded before the charge date. Pair this with the subscription agreement, billing history, and account usage logs. If the log clearly shows no cancellation, you have strong grounds to contest.

How is Discover AP different from Visa 13.2?

The dispute logic is identical - the code covers cancelled subscription billing in both networks. The main practical differences: Discover's response window is 30 days (same as Visa), and Discover has a smaller market share than Visa, so you'll see fewer AP disputes than Visa 13.2 disputes proportionally.

What if the customer cancelled through a third-party app?

Third-party cancellations (App Store, Google Play, PayPal recurring) are valid. If the platform confirms the cancellation predates your charge, accept the dispute. Set up platform cancellation webhooks to sync third-party cancellations to your subscription system automatically.